Nederland Fourth of July Parade
Small town fun at its best
The Town of Nederland presented its annual Fourth of July Parade, making a route loop through town from Barker Reservoir, on Sunday, July 4, near noon. It was a breezy, slightly cool day in Ned and national flags of all sizes, especially our present-day Old Glory, flew copiously in the breeze. The gray overcast skies actually kept their light sprinkle of rain until the end of the parade.
The United States’ Fourth of July celebrations commemorate the year 1776 when the original 13 Colonies of America successfully declared their independence, claiming their own sovereignty and rejecting allegiance to the Kingdom of Britain. America’s declaration resulted in the war known as the American Revolutionary War or American War of Independence.
The Town’s parade celebrated the quintessential spirit of Nederland and Americana with high-flying displays of the patriotic red-white-and-blue colors in clothing, decorations and make-up on smiling faces. Along with wearing multicolored bandanas, garlands and leashes, numerous parade dogs and at least one goat were safely painted with patriotic colors too.
Over 25 vintage vehicles—including an elegant classic Packard convertible holding Mayor Joe Gierlach and his daughter in the rear rumble seat—were interspersed throughout the parade. Gierlach commented that the celebration “was fabulous” and since Ned’s elected mayor, Sumaya Abu-Haidar was out of town, Mayor Pro-Tem Gierlach presided as mayor for the day. A smiling Gierlach said, “It was great!”
One of the vintage autos, an International Harvester Scout, sported a large beige banner with a coiled rattlesnake and the words “Liberty Or Death” and “Don’t Tread On Me” printed on it. The banner resembled an early U.S. flag first carried in 1775 by the Minutemen of Culpeper, Virginia, in the American Revolutionary War before a national flag was ever decided on.
Nederland and Gilpin County’s Colorado Sierra and High County Fire Departments were all represented with various big fire and rescue trucks. The Ned police did a terrific job of guiding these big boys through a tight intersection of town along the parade route.
One of the highlights of the parade was the best-dressed-in-red Barker Dam Brass Band having a rousing good time pumping out old-timey patriotic songs as it rolled by in a trailer hitched to a Jeep past the crowd.
Following the Band, Smokey the Bear ambled by leading a green U.S. Forest Service fire truck, while a uniformed forest ranger handed out candy to kids on the parade route.
A large crowd of Friends of the Nederland Community Library bearing “Make a Splash, Read!” and “We’re Building a Library” banners strolled along with star-spangled dressed kids on decorated bicycles.
The peaceful parade came about through the coordinated efforts of the Nederland police and its volunteers in directing traffic away from the closed-off streets and also ensuring the crowd’s safety. Town Marshall Ken Robinson remarked on the perfect weather and the fun of the parade with a lot of kids saying, “I like that.”
The celebration set the day-long festive Fourth of July mood approaching the evening’s scheduled Music at Chipeta Park and Nederland Fireworks over Barker Reservoir. Parade-goers stayed on to shop the town’s stores, enjoy fine café and restaurant dining, and savor the embracing ambience of a picturesque mountain community.